Whereas, No fossil has been designated as the official state
fossil for the State of West Virginia; and
Whereas, Interest in fossils and paleontology has become
increasingly widespread throughout the citizenry of this state,
there currently being fossil, rock and gem clubs already organized
in the counties of Cabell, Harrison, Kanawha and Wood; and
Whereas, In 1797, President Thomas Jefferson obtained and
described fossil bones from a limestone cave in what is now Monroe
County; and
Whereas, These bones were again described by Casper Wistar in
1799 as the bones of a giant extinct ground sloth; and
Whereas, Wistar named the bones as a new species, Megalonyx
Jeffersonnii, in honor of President Jefferson; and
Whereas, The bones are from the Ice Age or Pleistocene Epoch
which lasted from 10,000 to 1.8 million years ago; and
Whereas, The designation of a state fossil would aid in the
promotion of interest in geology, paleontology and history; and
Whereas, The bones afford an opportunity for special studies in
American, State, and natural history for the students of the state; and
Whereas, Thirty-nine of the fifty states have an official state
fossil; therefore, be itResolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:That the fossil Megalonyx Jeffersonnii be declared and hereby
designated as the official fossil of the State of West Virginia;
and, be itFurther Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates is
hereby requested to forward official copies of this resolution to
the citizens and schools in the state.